Democratic Party helped coordinate Sansom complaint

A spokesman for the Democratic Party of Florida helped an activist
craft a complaint against Rep. Ray Sansom that led to the House
tribunal set to begin Monday. Susan Smith of Odessa apparently
acknowledged the connection while being deposed today in Tampa by
Sansom's attorney, Gloria Fletcher.

Sansom presumably would seek
the use that as evidence of a political witch hunt. We're seeking
comment from Fletcher. The response from Democratic spokesman Eric
Jotkoff: "Can I be quoted as yawning"?

"I'm not sure it's news
that the Democratic Party has been involved in efforts to clean up
Republican corruption in Tallahassee. ... Susan and I had discussed our
mutual disgust for the alleged massive corruption scheme. I don't
recall who talked to who first. It's undeniable that Susan Smith was
outraged by what Ray Sansom did and her opinion of the House was
diminished."

The problem for Sansom, however, is that House
tribunal chairman Rep. Bill Galvano has already ruled on a motion that
Smith's motives are not relevant. The House took her complaint,
dismissed parts of it, and then hired a special investigator to review
Sansom's conduct with Northwest Florida State College. That
investigator found probable cause Sansom broke the rules -- forming the
basis for the House trail.